Defend the principles of our republic

ON Easter Monday 1916, Padraig Pearse proclaimed the Irish Republic on the steps of the GPO. In that Proclamation, he also outlined the type of caring and equal society that the republic should become.

In particular the proclamation declares the need for "cherishing all of the children of the nation equally".

It is ironic therefore that it was in the week before the 88th anniversary of that momentous event that the Government announced that they are to hold a referendum to deny Irish citizenship to Irish children born in this country to non-national parents.